Shortlisting a residential water softener: A buyer’s guide

kAm~G6C E:>6[ 9:89 4@?46?EC2E:@?D @7 5:DD@=G65 >:?6C2=D DF49 2D 42=4:F> 2?5 >28?6D:F> :? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]FD8D]8@G^H2E6C\D4:6?46\D49@@=^D4:6?46^92C5?6DD\H2E6CQm92C5 H2E6Ck^2m 4CJDE2==:K6 @? 962E:?8 6=6>6?ED[ 244F>F=2E6 :? A:A6H@C<[ 2?5 568C256 9@FD69@=5 2AA=:2?46D]k^Am

kAmq642FD6 AC@A6CEJ =2J@FED 2?5 4@?DF>AE:@? A2EE6C?D G2CJ D:8?:7:42?E=J 24C@DD C68:@?D[ D9@CE=:DE:?8 E96 C:89E H2E6C D@7E6?6C C6BF:C6D 6G2=F2E:?8 2 AC@A6CEJVD E649?:42= :?7C2DECF4EFC6 C2E96C E92? C6=J:?8 @? 9625=:?6 >2C<6E:?8 ?F>36CD] %96 7@==@H:?8 7C2>6H@C< 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]92CG6JH2E6CD@7E6?6CD]4@]F<^QmrF==:82? w2CG6Jk^2m @FE=:?6D 9@H E@ ?2CC@H 5@H? @AE:@?D 32D65 @? 9@FD69@=5 56>2?5[ A=F>3:?8 C6BF:C6>6?ED[ 2?5 @A6C2E:@?2= 677:4:6?4J]k^Am

k9bm$E6A `i tG2=F2E6 w@FD69@=5 s6>2?5 2?5 $A246 r@?DEC2:?EDk^9bm

kAm$:K:?8 2 H2E6C EC62E>6?E DJDE6> 368:?D H:E9 2DD6DD:?8 52:=J H2E6C FD286 2?5 A9JD:42= :?DE2==2E:@? A2C2>6E6CDik^Am

kF=mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6h_e52a6fg7a35e`37eeaggg2g4ecb626QmkDEC@?8m~44FA2?4J 2?5 52:=J G@=F>6ik^DEC@?8m s2:=J H2E6C 4@?DF>AE:@? D42=6D 5:C64E=J H:E9 9@FD69@=5 D:K6] $9@CE=:DE:?8 D9@F=5 368:? 3J 42=4F=2E:?8 A62< 52:=J H2E6C FD286 E@ 6?DFC6 E96 DJDE6>VD C6D:? 365 42? AC@46DD E96 C6BF:C65 G@=F>6 367@C6 ?665:?8 E@ C686?6C2E6]k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6dd`dc`be``665ahdageh6e`2bd2aafbaQmkDEC@?8mx?DE2==2E:@? 7@@EAC:?Eik^DEC@?8m r@>A24E 423:?6E\DEJ=6 F?:ED 2C6 56D:8?65 E@ 7:E E:89E DA246D =:<6 F?56C\D:?< 6?4=@DFC6D @C D>2== FE:=:EJ 4=@D6ED] {2C86C DE2?52=@?6 @C 5F2=\E2?< DJDE6>D C6BF:C6 565:42E65 7=@@C DA246 ?62C E96 >2:? H2E6C 6?ECJ A@:?E]k^=:mk^F=m

k9bm$E6A ai r2=4F=2E6 u=@H #2E6 2?5 !=F>3:?8 r@>A2E:3:=:EJk^9bm

kAmp D@7E6?6C >FDE 56=:G6C EC62E65 H2E6C H:E9@FE 42FD:?8 2 5C@A :? 9@FD69@=5 H2E6C AC6DDFC6ik^Am

kF=mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ65def7252d_2_b47efa`gcgag_5db`57bQmkDEC@?8m!62< 7=@H C2E6 W{^>:? @C v!|Xik^DEC@?8m !62< 7=@H >62DFC6D E96 >2I:>F> G@=F>6 @7 H2E6C 2 DJDE6> 42? D@7E6? D:>F=E2?6@FD=J] p D9@CE=:DE:?8 6G2=F2E:@? D9@F=5 244@F?E 7@C 9:89\56>2?5 A6C:@5D[ DF49 2D CF??:?8 2 5:D9H2D96C @C H2D9:?8 >249:?6 H9:=6 >F=E:A=6 D9@H6CD 2C6 :? FD6]k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ65fgb7``h_c`6_h_gbc7f_`4d56_cgh_dQmkDEC@?8m!=F>3:?8 =:?6 AC6DDFC6ik^DEC@?8m |@56C? AC6DDFC:K65 A=F>3:?8 DJDE6>D AFE 4@?E:?F@FD DEC6DD @? :?E6C?2= 4@?EC@= G2=G6D]k^=:mk^F=m

k9bm$E6A bi r@>A2C6 $JDE6> pC49:E64EFC6Dk^9bm

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^5C:?<:?8\H2E6C^23@FE^23@FE\9@>6\H2E6C\EC62E>6?E\DJDE6>D]9E>=Qm(2E6C D@7E6?6CDk^2m A6C:@5:42==J F?56C8@ 2 C686?6C2E:@? 4J4=6 E@ 7=FD9 EC2AA65 >:?6C2=D 7C@> E96:C 7:=EC2E:@? >65:2] $9@CE=:DE:?8 C6BF:C6D 49@@D:?8 36EH66? EH@ 4@C6 DJDE6> 56D:8?Dik^Am

kF=mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6`dd24behdd33ecdbhfegh66b2adef5egQmkDEC@?8m$:?8=6\E2?< DJDE6>Dik^DEC@?8m %96D6 F?:ED 762EFC6 2 D:?8=6 C6D:? 4J=:?56C 2?5 EJA:42==J C686?6C2E6 @G6C?:89E H96? H2E6C FD286 :D =@H] sFC:?8 E9:D @?6\ E@ EH@\9@FC AC@46DD[ F?EC62E65 92C5 H2E6C 6:E96C 3JA2DD6D E96 DJDE6> @C D@7E H2E6C D6CG:46 :D E6>A@C2C:=J A2FD65]k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ63_aeefehgg`_2g2egabhf4hh3__5hfa3QmkDEC@?8m%H:?\E2?< DJDE6>Dik^DEC@?8m u62EFC:?8 EH@ :?E6C4@??64E65 4J=:?56CD[ E96D6 DJDE6>D 2=E6C?2E6 E2?<D D@ E92E @?6 4@?E:?F6D DFAA=J:?8 D@7E H2E6C H9:=6 E96 @E96C C686?6C2E6D] %9:D 56D:8? 8F2C2?E66D 4@?E:?F@FD[ ac^f EC62E65 H2E6C 7@C 9:89\56>2?5 9@FD69@=5D]k^=:mk^F=m

k7:8FC6mk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]DE24<6C]4@>^H^`ag_^:>286D^DE@C:6D^a_ae^_h^`f^v=@32=Ta_$9@CE=:DE:?8Ta_|2EC:I]A?8Q 2=ElQp v=@32= $9@CE=:DE:?8 |2EC:I 492CE =:DE:?8 5:776C6?E 9@FD69@=5 AC@A6CEJ EJA6D H:E9 E96:C C64@>>6?565 DJDE6> 2C49:E64EFC6D[ 7=@H 42A24:E:6D[ 2?5 @A6C2E:@?2= 8@2=D]Q DEJ=6lQH:5E9i `__TQ ^mk7:842AE:@?mrF==:82? w2CG6Jk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m

k7:8FC6mk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]DE24<6C]4@>^H^`ag_^:>286D^DE@C:6D^a_ae^_h^`f^(2E6CTa_$@7E6?6CTa_!6C7@C>2?460_]A?8Q 2=ElQp H2E6C D@7E6?6C A6C7@C>2?46 492CE 4@>A2C:?8 E96 5:776C6?E 5:DE:?4E DJDE6> 4=2DD6D]Q DEJ=6lQH:5E9i `__TQ ^mk7:842AE:@?mrF==:82? w2CG6Jk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m

k9bmk3C ^m$E6A ci pDD6DD {@?8\%6C> |2:?E6?2?46 2?5 (2CC2?EJ %6C>Dk^9bm

kAm}2CC@H:?8 5@H? 2 7:?2= D9@CE=:DE :?G@=G6D C6G:6H:?8 E96 =@?8\E6C> E@E2= 4@DE @7 @H?6CD9:A 36J@?5 E96 :?:E:2= AFC492D6 AC:46ik^Am

kF=mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ65dbe5g5cbd6g6ge_eaf33h2e6e5cc6a5QmkDEC@?8m#6D:? 365 H2CC2?EJ 4@G6C286ik^DEC@?8m x@?\6I492?86 C6D:? 3625D C6>@G6 92C5 >:?6C2=D 7C@> E96 H2E6C] $2?:E:K:?8 496>:42=D =:<6 49=@C:?6 :? >F?:4:A2= H2E6C 568C256 C6D:? @G6C E:>6] qFJ6CD D9@F=5 4@?7:C> H96E96C >2?F724EFC6C H2CC2?E:6D 6IA=:4:E=J 4@G6C C6D:? 568C252E:@? @C 6I4=F56 :E 2D DE2?52C5 H62C 2?5 E62C]k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6h6h27ce``6afdcaac2g6c`52_2c6g`egQmkDEC@?8m#686?6C2E:@? 677:4:6?4Jik^DEC@?8m s6>2?5\:?:E:2E65 >6E6C65 G2=G6D EC24< 24EF2= H2E6C FD286 2?5 EC:886C C686?6C2E:@? @?=J H96? E96 C6D:? 365 :D 6I92FDE65[ D2G:?8 D:8?:7:42?E D2=E 2?5 H2E6C 4@>A2C65 E@ @=56C E:>6C\32D65 >@56=D]k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ66fh6h42gcce`_4e56e7f`b2gd6d5h`62QmkDEC@?8m#6EFC? @? :?G6DE>6?Eik^DEC@?8m (9:=6 D@7E6?6CD C6BF:C6 FA7C@?E 6BF:A>6?E 2?5 D2=E 4@DED[ EC62E:?8 92C5 H2E6C AC6G6?ED D42=6 3F:=5FA @? 962E:?8 6=6>6?ED[ 6IE6?5D 2AA=:2?46 =:76DA2?D[ 2?5 C65F46D 9@FD69@=5 DA6?5:?8 @? 4=62?:?8 AC@5F4ED 2?5 D@2AD]k^=:mk^F=m

k9bmuC6BF6?E=J pD<65 "F6DE:@?Dk^9bm

kAmkDEC@?8mw@H 5@ 4@?DF>6CD D9@CE=:DE E96 C:89E D@7E6?6C 7@C 2 DA64:7:4 AC@A6CEJnk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmr2=4F=2E6 A62< H2E6C FD286 32D65 @? 9@FD69@=5 D:K6 2?5 9@H >2?J 7:IEFC6D CF? D:>F=E2?6@FD=J] |2E49 E9@D6 ?665D 282:?DE E96 D@7E6?6CVD A62< 7=@H C2E6 2?5 52:=J 42A24:EJ E@ 6?DFC6 H2E6C AC6DDFC6 C6>2:?D 4@?D:DE6?E]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m(9:49 E649?:42= 762EFC6D >2EE6C >@DE H96? 6G2=F2E:?8 2 DJDE6>nk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm!C:@C:E:K6 A62< 7=@H C2E6[ H2E6C 2?5 D2=E 4@?DF>AE:@? A6C C686?6C2E:@? 4J4=6[ =@?8\E6C> H2CC2?EJ 4@G6C286 WDA64:7:42==J 7@C E96 C6D:? 365X[ 2?5 E@E2= >2:?E6?2?46 C6BF:C6>6?ED]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m(92E EJA6 @7 H2E6C D@7E6?6C :D 36DE 7@C 2 72>:=J @7 7@FCnk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm%96C6 :D ?@ D:?8=6 >@56= DF:E23=6 7@C 6G6CJ 7@FC\A6CD@? 9@FD69@=5] pDD6DD E@E2= 32E9C@@>D[ D:>F=E2?6@FD 2AA=:2?46 FD286[ 32D6=:?6 AC6DDFC6[ 2?5 :?DE2==2E:@? DA246 E@ 49@@D6 36EH66? 2 9:89\42A24:EJ D:?8=6\E2?< @C 2 4@?E:?F@FD EH:?\E2?< DJDE6>]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mw@H 42? AC@A6CEJ @H?6CD 6DE:>2E6 H96E96C 2 H2E6C D@7E6?6C H:== A2J 7@C :ED6=7nk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAmr@>A2C6 :?:E:2= 6BF:A>6?E 2?5 :?DE2==2E:@? 4@DED H:E9 @?8@:?8 D2G:?8D @? H2E6C 962E:?8 677:4:6?4J[ C65F465 56E6C86?E 4@?DF>AE:@?[ 76H6C 56D42=:?8 496>:42=D[ 2?5 6IE6?565 2AA=:2?46 =:76]k^Am

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]92CG6JH2E6CD@7E6?6CD]4@]F<^3=@8^D9@CE=:DE:?8\2\C6D:56?E:2=\H2E6C\D@7E6?6C\2\3FJ6CD\8F:56^Qmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2m k6>mH2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]92CG6JH2E6CD@7E6?6CD]4@]F<^Qmk6>mrF==:82? w2CG6Jk^6>mk^2m k6>m2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2mk6>m]k^6>mk^Am